The emergence of a new inclusive meta-scientific genre; ‘the Bigger Picture’

Abstract

Parascientific genres often do not abide by the established norms and conventions of science communication in research articles (RAs) and they are not included in the RA. This work examines the linguistic and communicative exigencies of an emerging digital genre, the Bigger Picture, an obligatory post-publication section in the journal Chem which deviates considerably from RA norms, yet it is included in the RA. This work aims to examine its rhetorical functions and determine users' initial perceptions: rhetorical analysis of twenty Bigger Picture sections in Chemistry RAs in Chem, a survey and an interview were conducted to determine users' perceptions. Novice researchers/writers were also asked to write think aloud reports as part of the qualitative analysis. The analysis of the genre moves and featuring conventions showed an intentional blurring of boundaries between scientific and general discourse, technical, non-technical and inter-disciplinary communication which gives rise to a new more inclusive ‘meta-scientific’ genre. Participants agreed that the Bigger Picture's main purpose is to involve, engage and reach out to a wider audience, adapting a discipline-specific discourse and re-contextualising research outcomes from a highly specialised context to a nominally specialised one, using recontextualisation strategies which aim to include a broader pool of potential interdisciplinary users.